6 Ways to Use Essential Oils
This post may contain affiliate links from which I will earn a commission. Learn more in our disclosure.
Wondering how to use essential oils? There's no need to be overwhelmed about it–it's fairly easy to learn.
Here are 6 ways to get started using essential oils–you're sure to find some helpful ways to add them to your daily life.
From adding them to DIY personal and home care products, to touting them as cure alls, information about essential oils is everywhere. I myself was skeptical about them for a long, time, not having any idea about how to use essential oils or whether they would really be effective. I found out that they are really effective and loved what they were doing for me and my family.
I later ended up doing a bunch of research to choose which company's oils I wanted to use and recommend, but now they are pretty much an “everyday thing” in our home.
I use them in my Homemade Hair Spray, DIY Chest Rub, Nourishing Hair Rinse, Homemade Body Wash, Hand and Body Cream, and at bedtime to aid in sleep.
If you're new to essential oils, or even if you're a seasoned user, I think this list will be of interest to you and will hopefully give you a few more ideas about how you can safely use essential oils for a more natural approach to beauty, home care, and healing.
You can read more here about my hunt for the best essential oils company.
How to Use Essential Oils
1. Diffuse
This is my current favorite method of use. I finally found a diffuser that I love and I have literally been using it round the clock for about 2 months. (Many of you have been asking about diffusers. I will share a post as soon as I can, but here are several great options.)
Simply put water and the oils in the diffuser according to the manufacturer's instructions, and your home (or room) will soon be filled with the oil's scent and properties.
I have been diffusing my DIY Antibacterial Blend frequently, as well as Orange and Peppermint on occasion. The citrus and mint are invigorating when the afternoon slumps occur.
2. Inhale
Simply open a bottle, bring it close to your nose and inhale. I have done this with peppermint oil for a headache and with both Peppermint and Helichrysum (here's a link to both versions: Gymnocephalum or Italicum) after I sustained a head injury.
3. Apply topically
Just apply the oils to the desired location.
If you are just getting started with how to use essential oils in your daily life, you should start by blending the oils with a carrier oil. The most commonly used carrier oil is Fractionated Coconut Oil. It has a long shelf life and is odor-free. However, you can use any oil that you have in your home. I have personally used olive, but more commonly coconut.
Many people like to apply the oils to the bottoms of their feet. I do that occasionally, but I personally use essential oils more frequently directly on the area that is affected. I have used essential oils effectively this way for many issues – sleep aid (Lavender), tendon injuries (Peppermint and Lemongrass), body support for head tension (Peppermint), head injury (Peppermint and Helichrysum), skin support for acne (Grapefruit or Immune Strength, or my DIY Antibacterial Blend)
4. In the Bath
Mix 3-12 drops of essential oil into a tablespoon of carrier oil. This is essentially emulsifying the essential oils so that you don't end up with oil adhering to your skin and creating a problem (and it could be a HUGE problem indeed!)
Oils that would be perfect for this would of course be lavender or rose. Or use oils such as eucalyptus for respiratory issues. A nice steamy bath with Eucalyptus Oil might be just the thing for your stuffed up little one so he or she can get to sleep.
Even when using a carrier oil, please do take care not to use “hot” oils like cinnamon, oregano, lemongrass, etc., as they can still do damage to the skin.
5. Compress
Blend 6 drops of your essential oil of choice into a tablespoon of carrier oil. Then add this mixture to a cup or so of water. Soak your compress pad in the water, squeeze the excess water out, and apply. You could do this with either a hot or cold compress. Peppermint would be a great choice for an injury or back pain. I've had many friends feel so much better after applying peppermint oil to stubborn back discomfort.
I personally do what I consider to be a simpler version of a compress. I put the oil (always diluted) on my skin and then apply a warm heating pad on top. That helps to drive the oils into the injury and avoids the added messiness of having to soak a pad in the oils, plus avoids waste of the oils.
6. Internally
There is a lot of controversy over this issue, but here is my official stance.
I recommend you consult with a professional before ingesting any essential oils. Consult a Medical Doctor, Naturopath, or clinically trained Aromatherapist who knows you and is aware of your medical history, as well as any medications you are on. With this information, the professional can tailor a regimen that works for your body.
Too many people out there are recommending willy nilly internal use of essential oils. This post goes into more detail about why you need to be careful about this.
Of course, none of the above is medical advice. Please talk with your physician before making any changes to your diet or exercise routine or before using essential oils :). (Sorry but I have to write that.)
If you are interested in learning more about how to use essential oils, this short report on 10 Things to Know About Essentials Oils is a great resource as well. Plus you get access to my VIP newsletter – neato :)!
Do you use essential oils?
What is your favorite safe way to use essential oils?
I have two questions.
One: Do you apply the lavender oil neat, and if so, where? (Counting that as one question…)
Two: A friend of mine told me that you could apply peppermint oil in a line down the inner arch of your feet to help you sleep. Do you know anything about that or if it’s true?
I do not recommend using essential oils neat in general due to the potential problem of sensitization. I have heard that lavender is one that is less problematic but I don’t wish to recommend that.
I have never heard about that w/ peppermint but lavender is typically a great sleep help. Peppermint is more of a stimulant. Odd recommendation, I think. There are some nice sleep blends on the market.
Do you mix the lavender with a carrier oil then? I’m assuming you apply it topically since it’s under the “Topical” use category. Maybe that’s presumptuous. If you do apply it topically (with a carrier oil), where do you apply it? Under the nose?
Yes, I do. I put it in a bottle mixed with the oils. I put it on my son’s temples or on the wrist. I just gave some to a friend – he used it for an ear issue. He didn’t know it was for relaxing but later told me it made him feel relaxed :).
Hi Adrienne. I enjoyed reading your post however j didn’t come across the brand that you purchase from. What was your end result?
Hi there. Sorry it wasn’t clear. I put different wording in the post. Hope it’s better now and here is also where you can go to read more about where I went. https://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/natural-remedies/announcing-the-best-essential-oils-company-and-a-great-sale/
Have you tried Jade Bloom oils? What do you know or think of them? Thanks
Sorry, I haven’t. This post and this report should help:
https://wholenewmom.com/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-essential-oils-before-you-buy/
https://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/toxic-overload-health-concerns/essential-oils-testing-is-it-reliable/
I’m sorry I should’ve clarified INTERNALLY….. How many drops would you have taken internally to try to prevent getting a nasty virus or bacteria possibly airborne that you may have inhaled as the sick person had been coughing a lot near you…..
Thank you!!!
Hi, and THANK YOU SOOO MUCH for all of your hard long hours of research so that people like us can learn from you!!!!! My question I have is how many drops of Thieves (Young Living) or Immuno Strength (NAN) would ‘you have used’ if /when you were trying to avoid getting a nasty bug like say pnemonia, that you were around someone directly that had it? Thank you for your opinion!
Hi there. I of course can’t medically advise, and I can’t say that it is a good idea to take essential oils internally. I recommend you consult with a professional before ingesting any essential oils. Consult a Medical Doctor, Naturopath, or clinically trained Aromatherapist who knows you and is aware of your medical history, as well as any medications you are on. With this information, the professional can tailor a regimen that works for your body.
I love putting a few drops of Lavender oil in my bath at the end of the day. It helps me unwind and release stress.
The reason that it is a good idea to add the essential oils to Epsom salt for a bath is so that the epsom salt can help to disperse the oils throughout the water instead of floating on the surface. Since they are fat soluble and not water soluble, this keeps the oils from clinging to sensitive parts on the body.
Thanks for the great info!!!! So they hook onto the epsom?
Hello! I have spent a number of hours researching your research on essential oils and have really enjoyed what I’ve read. Just today I have been looking on your website for your top NAN oils that you use…is there a list you’ve given? I’m a bit overwhelmed with the choices on the website, though nicely laid out and easy to navigate. Could you point me to a post I must be missing on your favorites please? Thanks again for your work.
Hi there. I haven’t done that — what kind of things are you thinking you will use them for?
They have some kits that might be helpful for you and you get a small discount that way. Let me know. Thanks!
I also wanted to know thoughts, we do not have alot of extra funds right now and I have ordered through Young Living because I do worry about getting oils that are not 100% pure but I have heard some pretty good reviews on a place called Planet Earth and there oils are way more than half that of YL and I just wondered if anyone else has used them and if they are quality oils
I always really look forward to your posts especially about EO’s. It was your series on discovering the best company that lead me to NAN! Thank you! One thing that I have learned (the hard way) is to never put essential oils straight into the bath tub. Mix it with milk, or Epsom salts or something. Otherwise you are bound for a pretty painful experience! You may want to mention that in your post to save others from a lot of discomfort. 😉
Interesting — you mean that all that water isn’t diluting it enough?
oh yes, for people with sensitivities I guess but I caused this pain on my son,,,(ikr bad mamma) he is hitting I guess prepubescent stage and got a ingrown hair infected on his testicle so my hubby told me what it was and of course I cannot trust him to take care of it so I put some tea tree oil in his bath and let me tell you it burned him up!! But I do it all the time and put different mixtures an dI am fine but they also say that people born prematurely their skin hasn’t fully formed so they will usually have skin irritations and senstivities